People have often debated how the time of children is best spent. Should children work? Should children study? Should children play? In developed countries, the general consensus is that children should study and play. However, the most beneficial ratio of time spent playing to time spent studying is still hotly debated. In recent years, as many elementary schools have reduced or eliminated recess, this debate has grown even more intense.

Why Recess is Being Cut

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, 26 percent of high school seniors had writing levels that were below basic in 2002. Also in 2002, 25 percent of eighth graders had reading levels below basic. In 2000, 34 percent of eighth graders had math levels below basic. Minority students and students who live in lower class areas are most likely to have inadequate reading, writing, and math skills.

In an attempt to rectify this problem, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act on January 8, 2002. The NCLB act forces schools to be accountable for the quality of education that they provide. Specifically, students must take and pass standardized tests to prove that they have learned the basic English and math skills appropriate for their grade level. Schools that do not show significant improvement, according to test score results, will be required to provide supplemental services, such as tutoring. Students will also be given the option to attend better performing schools.

Although the NCLB act does not suggest that schools cut or reduce recess, this has been a common reaction. Schools are under a great deal to meet the standards set forth by the NCLB act; additional class time is sometimes seen as imperative, and recess is the easiest program to cut.

Additionally, recess often raises concerns over safety. According to the Children’s Safety Network, most injuries to young students occur on the playground. This makes sense; recess is unstructured and often under supervised. During recess, children play, often quite recklessly, on large, tall pieces of equipment, such as slides, swings, and monkey bars. Bullying also frequently occurs on playgrounds. Physical education classes offer a safer environment in which children can exercise, leading some school officials to believe that cutting recess is a good option.